The Ordinary may sound like a humble name, but this brand is everything except mediocre. A fairly new brand, it seems to have exploded onto the beauty scene, becoming the darling of beauty sites, magazines, and blogs and has won many beauty awards, and is likely all over your social feeds. Celebrities (Kim Kardashian swears by one of their serums) love The Ordinary and in reading product reviews, so does the general public. But does it live it to the hype?

About The Ordinary

The brand is under the DECIEM umbrella, a Canadian-based cosmetics company that owns several other brands and began selling product in 2013. The products are free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, animal oils, and other ingredients you likely don’t want in your skincare. Also, it’s not tested on animals.

Part of the allure is the pricing. These mainly single-ingredient products are budget-friendly, with pricing starting around $6 and most items under $20. The apothecary style packaging is totally #shelfie worthy. The Ordinary offers products and skincare guides, which is extremely helpful when creating or adding to your regimen.

The Products

Products from The Ordinary generally focus on one main ingredient, such as retinol, vitamin C, lactic acid, or others, and combines the ingredient with the correct pH in order to be effective. This is helpful because you can add a single product to your routine or easily develop a new routine to address specific skin concerns. The website descriptions clearly explain the ingredients, what they do, and how to use the products. We’ve tried several offerings and have to agree that these will amp up your skincare.

What We’ve Tried

The Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, the Kim K. favorite, fast became one of our favorites as well. A product to be used a night, we woke up with soft, supple skin after just a few uses. The Lactic Acid 5% + HA combines lactic acid with moisturizing hyaluronic acid to counteract the drying effects. This should also be used at nighttime and if your skin tolerates it, you can alternate between this and the retinoid emulsion. This exfoliant reveals brighter, clearer skin and really helps will discoloration and enlarged pores. For deep discoloration, try the Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%. The Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% is another brightening product to target dark spots.

Buffet, the multi-technology peptide serum, is life-changing. Applied after toner (but not with direct acids) and before moisturizer, this gave our skin some serious glow. Featuring 11 amino acids and various hyaluronic acids, this product is anti-aging and moisturizing. We’re also loving the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA for hydration. This moisturizer is non-greasy and absorbs quickly.

Final Thoughts

The Ordinary products that we’ve tried have delivered effective results in a short amount of time. You can buy the products on the brand’s website, though do note that there are sometimes production issues, causing some items to be out of stock for long periods of time. But we are happy to stock on up on our favorite products when we can!

Let us know if you’ve tried this brand and have any product recommendations!

Lia is a makeup addict in Washington, D.C. When not at her digital marketing day job, she explores all things beauty and works as personal makeup shopper. She enjoys a strong latte in the mornings and a strong cocktail in the evenings.